Mail-bag catcher.



A. P. HARMAN.

I MAIL BAG GATGHER. APPLICATION IILED'IEB.25, 1911.

1,005,427. Patented Oct. 10,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Affomey.

, A. P. HARMAN.

MAIL BAG GATOHEB.

APPLICATION 211.111) FEB. 25, 1911.

1,005,427. Patented 0111. 10,1911.

8 SHEETSBHEET 2.

W1 TNESSES INVENTOR,

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UNTTED TATES PATENT @FFTCE.

ALBERT P. HARMAN, OF RADFORD, VIRGINIA.

MAIL-BAG CATCI-IER.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT P. HARMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Radford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bagcatchers, and I hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, andexact description thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical andeflicient mail bag catcher, which closes and locks automatically as themail bag enters the catch, thereby insuring speedy and positiveretention of the bag and eliminating the danger of its loss.

The invention therefore consists in certain peculiarities ofconstruction and combination of parts as herein set forth and shown bythe accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the device in an open or extended position,with the jaw spring in section showing the housing method. Fig. 2 is asimilar view in a closed position.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 indicates an ordinarysupporting bar which may be adjusted in-the eyes or staples secured tothe car door frame, and to which is rigidly secured the base plate 2, byordinary bolts, as at 33. A handle A is suitably attached to thesupporting bar, for the purpose of moving the device or shifting itsposition,

The mail bag catching rod, 5, is provided with a curve 5, adjacent tothe point of attachment to the base plate 2, to which it is suitablysecured by ordinary bolts, as at 66.

Pivotally attached to the base plate 2, at 7 and 8, are clutch members,consisting of a straight jaw 9, pivoted to the base plate at 8, and thejaw 10, having a straight portion 11, and a curved portion 12, andpivoted to the base plate at 7. These two jaws form the mail bag clutch,holding the same firmly as it enters the catch, as hereinafterdescribed. They are connected at their base by the plate 13 pivotedthereto, as at 1e and 15, and on which they operate as a hinge inopening and closing in the use of the device.

A resilient clasp or clutch member, 16, is secured by ordinary rivets tothe hinged end of the jaw 10, and extends at right angles Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1911.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911. Serial No. 610,875.

thereto. This clasp or clutch is provided to engage the notched orratchet plate and retain or look the jaws rigidly in closed relationwhen a mail bag strikes the lower jaw 9, as hereafter described. A smalllug, 17 secured to the base plate 2, is for the purpose of preventingthe jaw 9 from dropping too far and holding the same in open position asforced bv the spring, as hereinafter set forth.

The lever 18 is pivoted to the base plate 2, at 19, and in the endthereof is provided a slot, 20, in which is adapted to operate a lug,21, attached to the plate 22, which is conveniently secured to thenotched or ratchet plate 23, which is movable up or down to release orretain the mail bag in the jaws 9 and 10. A spring, 24, is suitablysecured to the plate 2 to coact with the lever 18 in forcing the notchedor ratchet plat-e 23 into engagement or disengagement with the clasp orclutch member 16. An ordinary resilient spring, 25, is suitably housed,as at 26, and is adapted to throw the jaw 9 back into open position whenthe two jaws are released from the notched or ratchet plate 23, asherein described.

Having described the various parts and construction of my device, itsoperation is obviously as follows: After the device is properly adjustedto the car door, and the jaws 9 and 10 set in open position, as shown inFig. 1, a mail bag striking the catcher and falling with suiiicientforce will force the jaw 9 down below the plane of the curve 5 of therod 5, and by means of the pivotally connected plate 13, causes the jaw10 to close down upon the other jaw 9, as shown in Fig. 2. This actionof the jaw 10 causes the clasp or clutch member 16 attached thereto, tostrike the notched or ratchet plate 23, the end thereof remaining firmlytherein, thus locking the jaws 9 and 10, holding the mail bag firmlyuntil released by the operator, as no jostling or jerking will force thebag from these jaws without his aid. In order to release the bag theoperator simply presses the lever 18, which withdraws the notched orratchet plate 23 from engagement with the clasp or clutch member, 16,releasing the same, upon which movement the spring 25 forces the jaw 9back into open position and against the lug 17, and the jaw 10 coactstherewith by means of the plate 13, at the same time the spring 24forces the lever 18 back into normal position to be ready to receive theclasp or clutch member 16 on the jaw 10 in the next similar operation inclosing.

The main features of my invention are its simplicity, economy andabsolute security with respect to the mail bag which falls into it.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A device of the character described, consisting of a base plate, acurved rod secured thereto, a pair of coacting jaws and a slotted leverpivotally attached to the said base plate, and a plate having a lugthereon adapted to pass through said slot and operate therein, a notchedor ratchet plate secured to said plate, and means for retaining saidjaws in closed relation and spring means for forcingthe same into openposition, all as set forth.

2. A mail bag catcher, consisting of a base plate, a curved rod securedthereto, coacting jaws pivotally attached to the said plate and joinedat their bases by a pivotally secured plate, a slotted lever pivotallyattached to said base plate having a plate thereon and anotched orratchet plate secured thereto, means for retaining the jaws in closedrelation and means for forcing the jaws into open position and holdingthe same therein, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT P. HARMAN. lVitnesses G. D. TYSAR, JOHN P. MAGINNIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

